Here are the books that make an impression on me staring at this week's no-doubt largely accurate list of books shipping from Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. to comic book and hobby shops across North America.

I might not buy all of the works listed here. I might not buy any. You never know. I'd sure look at the following, though.

*****

JUL131155 FAIRY TALE COMICS HC $19.99
This is the Chris Duffy-edited anthology of quality cartoonists doing adaptations of classic material, which is probably worth picking up solely for its survey-aspects even if you have no interest in this kind of material. This is a big enough book for First Second potentially they've brought it up as a future release for a couple of years now -- I can see a book with that title doing well. Also, Duffy is an interesting figure, one of those folks that comes along where we don't have enough for them to do to get all the benefits we could get by putting them to work. It's too bad!

JUN131283 FIRST KINGDOM HC VOL 01 (MR) $24.99
My theory is the revival of interest in 1970s science fiction comics as a substitute ground zero for the RAW work by those working the indy edge of the alt-comics world means a potential renewed interest in what Jack Katz was up to with all of these furiously-drawn, stately and odd comic books. I own these in comic book form and enjoy them a lot, although I'm not sure I could articulate a coherent version of the plot if asked to in return for $100.

APR130403 JACK COLE DEADLY HORROR HC $24.99
I will look at every single damn thing with Jack Cole's name on it, even the part of his career I find the least interesting.

AUG130502 MISS FURY HC SENSATIONAL SUNDAYS 1941-1944 $49.99
This has to be super-cool looking at least. I'm not totally up on this seminal character other than this was a big one for Tarpe Mills, and we're better off to have work on the market from that cartoonist.

MAY130381 MYSTERY SOCIETY DELUXE HC $27.99
I don't know that I'd pick this up and buy it, but I'd certainly pick it up for the Fiona Staples art -- given how well she's done in terms of the fan response to Saga.

MAY130446 AGE OF BRONZE HC VOL 03.B BETRAYAL PT 2 (MR) $28.99AUG130936 HICKEE ANTHOLOGY TP (MR) $12.95
I think I may already have some version of both of these works, but it's a collection of one of the last great independent comics series and a collection of one of the unfortunate casualties of post-1990s industry shrinkage.

MAY130711 FANTASTIC FOUR BY HICKMAN OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 $100.00MAY130710 FANTASTIC FOUR OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 NEW PTG $99.99
I like the omnibus format, and was reasonably fond of Hickman's work with the title that were I loaded down with cash I would be happy to own either.

AUG130596 CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2013 CVR A MARQUEZ (MR) $4.99AUG130597 CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2013 CVR B BA (MR) $4.99AUG130598 CBLDF LIBERTY ANNUAL 2013 CVR C CORBEN (MR) $4.99AUG130274 BATMAN BLACK & WHITE #2 $4.99AUG130332 HINTERKIND #1 (MR) $2.99AUG130336 WITCHING HOUR #1 (MR) $7.99
The top three is the latest CBLDF comic, which is a fundraising and educational opportunity for them so I plan to fund and learn. The Batman: Black And White title almost always features a couple of artists of interest, perhaps named "Rafael." Hinterkind and Witching Hour are solid Vertigo efforts -- an ongoing (I think) and more of a revolving series of one-shots (I think). I liked the Cliff Chiang comic in that Witching Hour quite a bit.

JUL131265 WE WONT SEE AUSCHWITZ GN $22.95
This is a new one from Self Made Hero; I recall this review making me to read it. Guy Delisle is a fine name to drop.

JUL131337 SLAM DUNK GN VOL 30 $9.99
This the best "mainstream" manga with a volume out this week. This has to be right near the end, maybe or two more volumes. I think the pacing is brutal for North American audiences, just the way the stories develop given our general familiarity with basketball, but I enjoy that work in general.

AUG131512 MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO PICTURE BOOK HC NEW ED $19.99AUG131513 MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO NOVEL $17.99
The published material in support of the various Miyazaki films is almost always first rate. This is the film that has enjoyed the most steady rise of appreciation since its initial release: it is a lot of folks #2 or #3 film from the director, and for several it's the best.

JUL130770 MUTTS TREASURY CAT CRAZY SC $19.99JUL130771 PEARLS BEFORE SWINE TP RATS WARS $12.99
Stephan Pastis and Patrick McDonnell are two of the top ten comic-strip cartoonists working, and any newspaper that doesn't carry both and could is probably greatly lacking in one way or another.

MAY131407 FRANK FRAZETTA ART AND REMEMBRANCES LTD S/N ED $125.00
I will always look at anything with Frank Frazetta's name on it.

AUG131265 PIPPI LONGSTOCKING HC VOL 02 FIXES EVERYTHING $14.95
I'm surprised the first issue of this series didn't hit the culture of comics with a bit more of a severe impact, although I have to imagine it sold pretty well. These comics should get better as the creative team does more of them, so I'm interested in picking up the work.

*****

The full list of this week's releases, including some titles with multiple cover variations and a long, impressive list of toys and other stuff that isn't comics, can be found here. Despite this official list there's no guarantee a comic will show up in the stores as promised, or in all of the stores as opposed to just a few. Also, stores choose what they carry and don't carry so your shop may not carry a specific publication. There are a lot of comics out there.

To find your local comic book store, check this list; and for one I can personally recommend because I've shopped there, albeit a while back, try this.

The above titles are listed with their Diamond order code in the first field, which may assist you in finding comics at your shop or having them order something for you they don't have in-stock. Ordering through a direct market shop can be a frustrating experience, so if you have a direct line to something -- you know another shop has it, you know a bookstore has it -- I'd urge you to consider all of your options.